By Tennis Now | Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Karolina Pliskova held a 6-3 lead when US Open champion Bianca Andreescu retired from today's WTA Finals after suffering a left knee injury.
Photo credit: WTA Finals Shenzhen Facebook
Karolina Pliskova was pumped for her rematch with Bianca Andreescu.
US Open champion Andreescu was pained by a left knee injury that forced her to pull the plug after one set.
More: Svitolina Sweeps Halep
The second-seeded Pliskova held a 6-3 lead when Andreescu slowly walked to net to shake hands retiring due to the left knee issue.
Pliskova will face Simona Halep in the pair's final Purple Group round-robin match with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
"Of course I was actually looking forward to this match," Pliskova told Andrew Krasny afterward. "Because I think I started well with a good match [vs. Elina] Svitolina.
"I was really like pumped for today. I'm really sorry she had to retire. Hopefully, she will maybe be ready for her next match if not then for Australia."
Today's second round-robin match was a rematch of the Rogers Cup quarterfinals, which Andreescu won 6-0, 2-6, 6-4, en route to taking the Toronto title.
The fourth-seeded Andreescu, who fell to Halep 3-6,7-6(6),6-3 in her two-and-a-half hour Purple Group opener, appeared to hurt her knee early in the opening set while running to her right for a wide shot.
Andreescu called for a medical timeout. The trainer heavily taped her knee.
Returning to the court, the 19-year-old Canadian lacked her typical dynamic movement and was pusing back tears consulting with coach Sylvain Bruneau later in the set.
"My knee twisted, I heard a crack, she validated me that it’s my mensicus," Andreescu said. "I can't bend my knee at all. It's cracking every time I walk and it freaking hurts...
"I don't want to stop."
Bruneau wisely advised Andreescu "don't push it."
And though the teenager completed the set, her left leg was clearly compromised prompting her to call it quits after the opening set.